Atlas of the Commercial Fisheries Around Ireland

2009 Review of the Fisheries of Relevance to Ireland Fisheries Science Services ..to research, assess and advise

Fisheries Science Services, Rinville, Oranmore, Co Galway, Ireland

Atlas of the Commercial Fisheries Around Ireland

Throughout 2009 the FSS Team were Involved in Data Collection, Data Management, Data Analysis, Conducting Assessments, Formulating and Providing Advice and Carrying out Scientific Research on Fish Stocks, both Nationally and Internationally. The Results of this Work are Presented in this 2009 Atlas.

December 2009

NOTE

This Atlas reviews the fishing activity on fish stocks of relevance to Ireland that come under the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Atlas focuses on fishing opportunities (Total Allowable Catches – TACs), landings trends, fleet activity and the state of the resource in the waters around Ireland (principally ICES Sub-areas VI and VII). The Atlas also deals with fish stocks exploited by Ireland outside Sub-areas VI and VII. Every effort has been made to use the most up to date information available on fishing opportunities, landings, effort, and on the state of the resource base. The various ICES and STECF reports and databases together with various EU Regulations should be consulted for the definitive figures and regulatory articles.

The cover shows a twin rigger fishing for prawns off the Irish coast.

CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Section 1: Fishing Opportunities 7

Section 2: Fishing Trends 12

Section 3: Fleet Activity 38

Section 4: State of the Fisheries Resource 56

Appendix I: Definition of fisheries technical terms and acronyms 57

Appendix II: List of Species Groupings in the Atlas 58

Introduction

The purpose of the Atlas of Commercial Fisheries around Ireland, is to provide the most up to date information on the fishing activity on the fisheries resource in the waters around Ireland, that will inform the general public, policy makers, managers, scientists and stakeholders on these fisheries. The information is presented in a very visual format and the language used is as ‘non technical’ as possible. The focus is on stocks that are regulated by Total Allowable Catch (TAC) under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The atlas will inform the debate on the upcoming review of the CFP.

The Atlas gives information, for the main fisheries, on Total Allowable Catches (TACs), landings trends and fishing activity (effort levels) in the waters around Ireland. In addition, the Atlas provides a brief overview on the state of the resource as indicated by the latest scientific assessments and advice. The most recent information and scientific advice on individual fish stocks is provided in the Stock Book, available at www.marine.ie. The atlas is divided into four sections:

Biology The waters around Ireland contain a very productive and biologically diverse marine ecosystem. These waters include a large area of shallow continental shelf (<200 m), two important off-shore banks (Porcupine and Rockall) and a large area of continental slope (Figure 1). Over the last number of centuries fisheries have developed and expanded from coastal waters initially, throughout the shelf in the last century, to the deep sea and oceanic waters in the last few decades. In 2007, an estimated 1.9 million tonnes of fish were taken by the fishing fleets of EU member states from the waters around Ireland (defined below). Ireland landed 185,000 tonnes of these fish or 10% of the international landings.

Irish waters are critically important in the life-cycle of many species. For example the largest and most valuable migratory pelagic stocks in the Northeast Atlantic (mackerel, horse mackerel and blue whiting) all spawn off the west coast of Ireland. Large stocks of hake, anglerfish and megrim also spawn along the continental slope west and south of Ireland. There are important herring, cod, haddock, whiting, plaice and sole spawning areas in the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea. The shelf area and coastal waters are important nursery areas for young fish. Shellfish stocks such as prawn, crab, lobster, shrimp, scallop, whelk and cockles are also abundant regionally or locally.

Boundaries The waters around Ireland are separated by a number of geo-political boundaries. These define zones, which have a range of purposes including access to mineral wealth, scientific study, regulatory jurisdiction and living resources.

At the largest spatial scale, the waters of the Northeast Atlantic are divided into a series of Divisions and Sub-divisions by International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), these are used to geo-reference the boundaries of fish stocks and fisheries management areas and to coordinate scientific oceanographic and marine resource research (Figure 2). The principal ICES areas around Ireland are Sub-area VI (composed of ICES Divisions VIa, and VIb) and Sub-area VII (ICES Divisions VIIa, VIIb, VIIc, VIIf, VIIg, VIIh, VIIj, and VIIk) (Figures 2 & 3).

1 Introduction

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) are sea zones within which a country has special (exclusive) rights over the exploitation and use of marine resources. The boundary extends from the coast of an individual state seaward to 200 nautical miles. Where EEZ’s overlap a boundary equidistant between the states is drawn (Figure 3). While individual member states of the EU still retain Exclusive Economic Zones for exploitation of mineral resources e.g. oil, and hold responsibility for all aspects of control and monitoring, with the advent of the Common Fisheries Policy in 1983, a single EC wide EEZ was formed, solely for the purpose of exploitation of commercial fisheries (other exclusive issues remained unchanged), so that fishing fleets from one country are free to fish within the EEZ of another (provided that they have a quota for the fish stock in that area). This open access for fishing within the EEZ extends from 12 nautical miles to the 200 mile limit. The Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is wholly contained within ICES Sub-areas VI and VII.

The open access to fisheries resources in the EEZ of members states EEZ is in some cases modified. One example is the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) (Figure 3), established in 2002 to protect nursery grounds to the west and south of Ireland. Access of non-Irish vessels to the BSA is restricted and effort regimes also apply to Irish vessels fishing in the BSA.

In waters within 12 nautical miles of their coast EU member states exercise exclusivity, in the area known as the territorial coastal waters. Ireland’s territorial waters are approximately 41000km2 in extent. Ireland retains exclusive access to fisheries in this zone with exception in the case of certain fisheries, in restricted locations, between 6-12nm where France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and U.K. have fishing rights. In waters within 6 nautical miles of the coast Irish vessels have sole access to fisheries with the exception of Northern Irish vessels who can also fish, under certain conditions, in this zone.

In the interest of making this Atlas as comprehensive as possible data has been provided from a number of different sources. Thus some data presented relate to ICES Sub-areas VI and VII, excluding VIId and VIIe, which in this Atlas are defined as waters around Ireland. Other data relate to the Irish EEZ only. These data are not directly comparable as the Irish EEZ is a significantly smaller area than ICES Sub-areas VI and VII (Figure 3). Other data provided cover Irish fishing activity outside these areas.

Management and Regulation Within the European Union, fisheries are managed through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) using regulation of inputs (effort and gear regulation) and outputs (TACs and minimum landing sizes). TACs and effort controls are established by regulation each year for most stocks in the EU, including waters around Ireland. Other technical measures may be changed less frequently.

Other than Nephrops, the majority of shellfish species are not regulated by TAC.

The TACs are decided based on advice from the Advisory Committee (ACOM) of ICES and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). ACOM provides management advice based on the current biological status of the stocks and their exploitation rates. The ACOM advice is based on precautionary considerations to ensure the long term sustainability of individual stocks. The STECF advice contains biological, technical and economic considerations. Most TACs are then negotiated at the Council of Ministers meeting each December in Brussels. Member States are allocated a proportion of TACs which become the national quota (Figure 4). This proportion is based on an agreed fixed share (i.e. does not change annually) and is known as “relative stability”. For full details of the most recent Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and quotas please see the European Commission website www.europa.eu. It should be pointed out here that in practice the TACs are actually Total Allowable Landings (TALs) since discarding is legal in most EU waters. In many fisheries discarding is prevalent for a variety of reasons. This compromises the efficacy of TACs as a management tool.

For stocks straddling EU and other Coastal States, TACs are set according to annual quota negotiations. Stocks in international waters, beyond EEZs, are managed by the North Eastern Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC). TACs for tuna species are set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT).

2 Introduction

Figure 1 Topography of the Seafloor in the Waters Around Ireland.

Rockall Bank Stanton Rockall Bank Trough

Feni Ridge Porcupine Bank

Porcupine Seabight

Goban Spur

Porcupine Abyssal Plain

3 Introduction Figure 2 ICES Divisions in the North East Atlantic.

IIb

XIVa

IIa

Va

31

XIVb 30 Vb1 Vb2

IVa 32 29

27 IIIa 28 VIb VIa

IIId 26 IVb XII IIIb 25 IIIc 24

VIIc VIIa VIIb IVc

VIIg VIIf VIIk VIIj VIId VIIe VIIh

VII Ia

VIIIe VIIId VIIIb

VIIIc

X

IXb IXa

4 Introduction Figure 3 The Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the 12 nautical mile limit, the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) and the ICES Divisions around the Irish Coast.

5 Introduction Figure 4 Outlines the process by which Community Fisheries TACs are determined.

Fish Stock Monitoring Sampling of Landings Research Surveys Discard Monitoring The Biology of the Stocks

National Stock Summaries Other National Stock All available national monitoring Summaries information on the resource

Pooled International Data Set All available national monitoring information on the resource

International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Various Working Groups Carry out Annual Stock Assessments Provide Scientific Advice on the Resource

ICES Advisory Committee (ACOM) Examine annual Assessments Provide Management Advice on the Resource

Regional Advisory Scientific , Technical and Economic Councils Committee for Fisheries (STECF) Respond to EU Commission for specific advice on selected topics

The EU Commission EU Fishing Opportunity Guidelines for 2010

Council of Ministers Annual TAC Negotiations Annual TAC Annual Irish Quota

6 Introduction Section 1 – Fishing Opportunities

In the case of TAC species, fishing opportunities for the Irish fleet depend on the total EU TAC for each stock and Ireland’s allocation or share of these TACs (the quotas). In the case of effort regulated stocks, effort allocation is based on historic effort levels by the Irish fleet in that fishery, rather than a share of an effort pool per se. Effort may be limited in some fisheries if such fisheries interact with other TAC-controlled fisheries which are being re-built. Fishing opportunities for species that are neither catch nor effort-regulated, are controlled by national fleet segmentation, secondary licensing and other national policies. Table 1.1 lists the top twenty species (both TAC & non TAC regulated) in terms of value landed by the Irish fleet in 2008. The top three are mackerel, nephrops and horse mackerel.

Ireland Share of the TACs The percentage of the TACs by Ireland, other EU countries and non-EU Members, together with the approximate value of the Irish quota are shown in Figures 1.1 and 1.2. The data in Figure 1.1 are presented in terms of descending tonnage of Irish quota while those in Figure 1.2 are presented in terms of descending economic value of the Irish quota.

Trends in TACs A historical summary of TACs for cod, whiting, haddock, monkfish, hake, megrim, herring, mackerel and nephrops are presented in Figure 1.3.

There has been a dramatic decline in the TACs for cod and whiting stocks, reflecting the collapse of these stocks in ICES Divisions VIa (west of Scotland) and VIIa (Irish Sea).

Megrim and monkfish TACs have been relatively stable. The marked dip in the hake TAC in 2002 reflects the severe stock decline and subsequent recovery.

A feature of the biology of haddock is that spawning can produce large numbers of young fish in certain years which significantly increase the stock size. These haddock outbursts cause the stock to rise and fall and this can be seen in the TAC trends.

The Nephrops stocks have been relatively stable. Ireland’s share of the Sub-area VI TAC is very small. Ireland’s share of the VII TAC is large and this fishery is very important for the Irish fleet.

The herring TAC trends show a decline over time. There has been a marked decline in the ICES Division VIa TACs.

The mackerel TAC has shown a cyclical trend reflecting changes in stock abundance.

The horse mackerel TAC has been stable in recent years but the western horse mackerel TAC is only around half of what it was in the nineties.

It should be noted that a plot of the TAC history for blue whiting is not presented, as this TAC has only been agreed internationally since 2006. Although this species dominates the overall picture of the volume landed, the history of the international TAC is too short to plot. The EU set a TAC for its vessels since 1997, but this was not applicable to the international vessels participating in the fishery outside EC waters.

Trends in TAC Uptakes The TAC trends can sometimes give misleading views of what is happening in a fishery and care is needed in interpreting these trends. For example, TACs are in practice Total Allowable Landings and do not include discards. In fisheries with high discard rates (e.g. haddock at Rockall), TAC trends may not reflect changing discarding practices. TACs can also be over or undershot. Individual member states may exceed or fail to utilise their full quota.

For example, in the case of megrim in Sub-area VI, only 53% of the overall TAC was used in 2008. The lack of uptake was largely driven by the failure of France to utilize its quota, while having the majority of the TAC. Therefore the uptake of an individual TAC may not necessarily reflect stock status, but simply highlight the failure to fully utilize fishing opportunities.

7 Fishing Opportunities

Table 1.1 Top 20 Most Economically Valuable Species Landed By Irish Vessels in 2008.

Live Weight Landed Weight Species Tonnes Tonnes Value € Mackerel 44,767 44,767 €39,959,734 Nephrops 9,179 5,685 €31,610,454 Horse Mackerel 36,631 36,631 €11,521,366 Monkfish 2,837 2,269 €9,658,905 Edible Crab 6,979 6,945 €8,324,799 Lobster 497 497 €6,918,843 Haddock 3,715 3,397 €6,208,644 Herring 27,975 27,975 €6,154,596 Megrim 1,745 1,662 €6,118,324 Albacore Tuna 1,522 1,522 €5,321,422 Cod 1,524 1,292 €3,582,421 Hake 1,392 1,244 €3,509,386 Whiting 2,564 2,451 €3,453,799 Blue Whiting 22,852 22,852 €3,141,641 Scallop 1,071 1,071 €2,744,116 Black Sole 212 202 €2,214,319 Whelk 1,816 1,816 €2,027,405 Shrimp 156 156 €1,950,000 Ray 1,237 1,083 €1,851,590 Pollack 702 617 €1,530,590

Note : all values are provisional for 2008. Boarfish are not included in this table. In 2008 Ireland landed an estimated 21,584 tonnes in this industrial fishery.

8 Fishing Opportunities

% Share of 2009 TAC By Ireland, Other EU & Non EU Members and approximate value of Irish Quota Species TAC Area Irl. Tonnes Est. Value MACKEREL North East Atlantic 66,562 €59,413,785 11.0% HORSE MACKEREL Western 39,179 €12,264,723 23.0% HERRING I, II 9,487 €2,087,140 0.6% NEPHROPS VII 9,091 €31,307,782 36.9% BLUE WHITING II‐VII, VIIIabde,XII,XIV 8,756 €1,203,777 5.9% HERRING VIaS, VIIb 8,467 €1,862,740 90.9% ALBACORE TUNA N. Atl. 6,696 €23,411,907 22.2% HERRING VIIaS, g,h,j,k 5,115 €1,125,300 86.4% WHITING VIIb,c,e‐k 4,918 €6,625,411 29.0% HERRING VIaN 3,187 €701,140 14.6% MEGRIM VII 3,029 €10,622,541 16.6% HADDOCK VIIb‐k 2,573 €4,300,395 22.2% MONKFISH VIIb‐k, VIIIa,b 2,128 €7,244,283 7.6% RAY AND SKATE VI, VII 2,055 €3,315,876 13.0% HAKE VI,VII 1,593 €4,015,609 5.5% SAITHE VII‐X 1,578 €1,354,094 41.6% HORSE MACKEREL North Sea 1,364 €426,991 3.5% HERRING VIIaN 1,250 €275,000 26.0% POLLACK VII 1,168 €2,545,707 7.6% PLAICE VIIa 934 €2,036,139 65.3% COD VIIb,c,e‐k 825 €1,939,288 20.5% LING VI‐XIV 793 €1,097,193 4.8% HADDOCK VIIa 617 €1,031,226 43.3% COD VIIa 592 €1,391,586 65.9% HADDOCK VIa 576 €962,700 16.4% MONKFISH VI 557 €1,896,178 10.0% SAITHE VIa 470 €403,311 3.6% HADDOCK VIb, XII, XIV 463 €773,837 7.9% ARGENTINE V,VI,VII 375 €51,555 7.1% MEGRIM VI 363 €1,273,022 13.0% COD I,II 289 €679,338 0.1% PLAICE VI 287 €625,666 36.5% NEPHROPS VI 255 €878,174 1.3% SOLE VIIh‐k 249 €2,602,557 45.0% PLAICE VIIf,g 200 €436,004 47.4% SPURDOG I, V‐XIX 195 €154,750 19.5% PLAICE VIIh‐k 184 €401,124 71.9% WHITING VIa 171 €230,367 29.8% WHITING VIIa 120 €161,661 57.4% SOLE VIIa 80 €836,163 15.9% PLAICE VIIb,c 75 €163,502 79.8% COD VI 68 €159,844 22.5% POLLACK VI 63 €137,311 14.0% SOLE VI 54 €564,410 79.4% BLUEFIN TUNA NE Atl., Med. 46 €280,165 0.2% SOLE VIIb,c 40 €418,082 80.0% SOLE VIIf,g 31 €324,013 3.1% TUSK V,VI,VII 25 €22,719 0.7% ARGENTINE III,IV 8 €1,100 0.6% BLUE LING VI,VII 6 €7,304 0.3% PORBEAGLE ICES Area 6 €11,561 1.4% GREENLAND HALIBUT II,IV,VI 4 €18,000 0.6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% % Irl % Other EU % Non EU

Values are based on 2008 average price per tonne.

Figure 1.1 Ireland’s proportional share of TAC stocks of the main commercial species, in order of largest tonnage.

9 Fishing Opportunities

% Share of 2009 TAC By Ireland, Other EU & Non EU Members and approximate value of Irish Quota

Species TAC Area Irl. Tonnes Est. Value 11.0% MACKEREL North East Atlantic 66,562 €59,413,785 NEPHROPS VII 9,091 €31,307,782 36.9%

ALBACORE TUNA N. Atl. 6,696 €23,411,907 22.2%

HORSE MACKEREL Western 39,179 €12,264,723 23.0% MEGRIM VII 3,029 €10,622,541 16.6% MONKFISH VIIb‐k, VIIIa,b 2,128 €7,244,283 7.6% WHITING VIIb,c,e‐k 4,918 €6,625,411 29.0% HADDOCK VIIb‐k 2,573 €4,300,395 22.2% HAKE VI,VII 1,593 €4,015,609 5.5% RAY AND SKATE VI, VII 2,055 €3,315,876 13.0% SOLE VIIh‐k 249 €2,602,557 45.0% POLLACK VII 1,168 €2,545,707 7.6% HERRING I, II 9,487 €2,087,140 0.6% PLAICE VIIa 934 €2,036,139 65.3% COD VIIb,c,e‐k 825 €1,939,288 20.5% MONKFISH VI 557 €1,896,178 10.0% HERRING VIaS, VIIb 8,467 €1,862,740 90.9% COD VIIa 592 €1,391,586 65.9% 41.6% SAITHE VII‐X 1,578 €1,354,094 13.0% MEGRIM VI 363 €1,273,022 BLUE WHITING II‐VII, VIIIabde,XII,XIV 8,756 €1,203,777 5.9%

HERRING VIIaS, g,h,j,k 5,115 €1,125,300 86.4%

LING VI‐XIV 793 €1,097,193 4.8% HADDOCK VIIa 617 €1,031,226 43.3% HADDOCK VIa 576 €962,700 16.4% NEPHROPS VI 255 €878,174 1.3% SOLE VIIa 80 €836,163 15.9% HADDOCK VIb, XII, XIV 463 €773,837 7.9% HERRING VIaN 3,187 €701,140 14.6% COD I,II 289 €679,338 0.1% PLAICE VI 287 €625,666 36.5% SOLE VI 54 €564,410 79.4% PLAICE VIIf,g 200 €436,004 47.4% HORSE MACKEREL North Sea 1,364 €426,991 3.5% SOLE VIIb,c 40 €418,082 80.0% SAITHE VI 470 €403,311 3.6% PLAICE VIIh‐k 184 €401,124 71.9% SOLE VIIf,g 31 €324,013 3.1% 0.2% BLUEFIN TUNA NE Atl., Med. 46 €280,165 26.0% HERRING VIIaN 1,250 €275,000 WHITING VIa 171 €230,367 29.8%

PLAICE VIIb,c 75 €163,502 79.8% WHITING VIIa 120 €161,661 57.4% COD VI 68 €159,844 22.5% SPURDOG I, V‐XIX 195 €154,750 19.5% POLLACK VI 63 €137,311 14.0% ARGENTINE V,VI,VII 375 €51,555 7.1% TUSK V,VI,VII 25 €22,719 0.7% GREENLAND HALIBUT II,IV,VI 4 €18,000 0.6% PORBEAGLE ICES Area 6 €11,561 1.4% BLUE LING VI,VII 6 €7,304 0.3% ARGENTINE III,IV 8 €1,100 0.6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

% Irl % Other EU % Non EU

Values are based on 2008 average price per tonne.

Figure 1.2 Ireland’s proportional share of TAC stocks of the main commercial species, in order of most economically valuable species.

10 Fishing Opportunities

TAC History for Cod TAC History for Monkfish, Hake & Megrim 25 monk VIIb-k,VIIIa,b 80 monk VI hake northern cod VIIa 70 20 cod VI megrim VI megrim VII cod VIIe-k 60

15 50

40 10 30 To nnes (x' 000) Tonnes (x'000)

20 5 10

0 0 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008

TAC History for Haddock TAC History for Whiting

40 haddock VIIa 35 whiting VIIa haddock VIa whiting Via 35 haddock VIIb-k 30 whiting VIIe-k haddock VIb 30 25 25 20 20 15 15 Tonnes (x'000) Tonnes (x '000) 10 10

5 5

0 0 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008

TAC History for Nephrops TAC History for Herring

30 90 herring VIaN

80 herring VIaS,VIIb 25 herring VIIaN 70 herring VIIg,h,j,k,aS 20 60

50 15 40 Tonnes (x '000) 10 Nephrops VI Tonnes (x'000) 30

Nephrops VII 20 5 10

0 0 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008

TAC History for Mackerel TAC History for Horse Mackerel

900 350

800 north sea horse mackerel 300 western horse mackerel 700 250 600

500 200

400 150 Tonnes (x '000) 300 Tonnes (x '000) 100 200 mackerel NEAI 50 100

0 0 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008

Figure 1.3 A historical summary of TACs for Cod, Monkfish, Hake, Megrim, Haddock, Whiting, Nephrops, Herring, Mackerel and Horse Mackerel.

11 Fishing Opportunities Section 2 – Fishing Trends

This section outlines the landings trends by both Ireland and other nations for the waters around Ireland and other international areas. It is presented in four parts: 2.1 Landings from all Areas by Irish & Foreign Vessels into Irish Ports. 2.2 Geographic Origin of Irish Landings for Key Species. 2.3 Landings Trends by Irish and International Fleets from the Waters Around Ireland (Sub-areas VI and VII, excluding VIId and VIIe). 2.4 Landings Trends by Irish and International Fleets excluding the Waters Around Ireland.

To examine these trends landings data have been grouped into species with similar life-histories and fisheries. These groupings are shown below with some of the most important species listed:

Species grouping Description Most important species contributing to landings

Small Pelagics These are shoaling species normally caught in large volumes Mackerel, Horse mackerel, by trawls fishing off the bottom. Some species in this group Herring, Sprat, Sardines are highly migratory only spending part of their life in Irish waters Demersal These species are mainly caught close to the bottom in Cod, Saithe, Haddock, Whiting, mixed fisheries by trawls (otter and beam). Some demersal Hake, Megrim, Monkfish, Ling, fisheries also use static nets long lines. Plaice, Sole Shellfish* These species are also mainly caught in, on or close to the Nephrops, Scallops, Crabs, bottom. A variety of gears are used depending on Lobsters, Squid, Cuttlefish species(e.g. Nephrops by trawl, Crab and Lobster by pots and scallops by dredges). Deepwater This group includes species mainly caught at depths >400m. Argentines, Atlantic redfishes, Most species are caught close to the sea bed or associated Black scabbardfish, Blue ling, with sea mounts or other features. Greater forkbeard, Orange roughy, Roundnose grenadier, Tusk Industrial This group includes species that are mainly caught in very Blue whiting, Boarfish, Norway high volume fisheries where the catch is primarily used to pout and sandeel produce fish meal and oils (hence industrial). It should be mentioned that increasing volumes of species like blue whiting are also now used for human consumption conversely in the past some of the small pelagic and demersal catches were used for industrial purposes. Elasmobranchs This is a very diverse group of species all with cartilaginous Various Dogfish, Spurdog, skeletons. They are generally larger bodied and longer lived Various Rays and skates, that many on the bony fish species. Elasmobranchs are Deepwater sharks, Pelagic mainly caught in mixed fisheries with demersal and deep sharks water species. Large Pelagics These are large bodied species found in the upper water Tunas and Swordfish column * As the atlas focuses primarily on wild capture fisheries, mussels & oysters have been excluded from the shellfish groupings. See appendix II for full list of species in each grouping

2.1 Landings from all Areas by Irish & Foreign Vessels into Irish Ports

The landings are presented as species groups (eg. small pelagics) and the trends in the landings into Irish ports & by Irish vessels abroad are shown for 1995 to 2008. Landings by Irish vessels by port, and by foreign vessels into Irish ports are also given for 2007. The distribution of Irish landings are mapped by key species for 2006 to 2008 using aggregated VMS and EU Logbook data for vessels>15m.

Fishing Trends 12 Overview of Historic Trends in Landings by Irish Vessels from all Areas & Foreign Vessels into Ireland Demersal Landings Small Pelagics Landings 30 250

25 200 20 150 15 100 10

5 50 Tonnes (x'000) Tonnes (x'000) Tonnes ‐ ‐ 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Irl over 10m into Ireland Irl under 10m into Ireland* Irl over 10m into Ireland Irl under 10m into Ireland* Irl Vessels Abroad* Foreign Vessels into Ireland* Irl Vessels Abroad* Foreign Vessels into Ireland*

Shellfish Landings Industrial Landings 40 80 35 70 30 60 25 50 20 40 15 10 30 5 (x'000) Tonnes 20 Tonnes (x'000) Tonnes ‐ 10 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 ‐ 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Irl over 10m into Ireland Irl under 10m into Ireland* Irl Vessels Abroad* Foreign Vessels into Ireland* Irl over 10m into Ireland Irl Vessels Abroad* Foreign Vessels into Ireland*

Deepwater Landings Elasmobranch Landings 14 7 12 6 10 5 8 4 6 3 4 2 2 1

Tonnes (x'000) Tonnes ‐ (x'000)Tonnes ‐ 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Irl over 10m into Ireland Irl under 10m into Ireland* Irl over 10m into Ireland Irl under 10m into Ireland* Irl Vessels Abroad* Foreign Vessels into Ireland* Irl Vessels Abroad* Foreign Vessels into Ireland* *Data unavailable prior to 2003

Figure 2.1.1 Landings from all areas by ‘Irish Vessels greater than 10 meters’ and ‘Irish Vessels under 10 meters’ into Irish ports. Landings by ‘all Irish Vessels landing abroad’; and landings by ‘Foreign vessels into Ireland’, by fishing category. Source Irish Logbook database.

The data in Figure 2.1.1 show only one category prior to 2003 - Irish vessels >10m landing into Ireland. This figure shows that shellfish landings, by vessels over 10m, have increased over time but that landings by under 10m vessels have declined since 2003. Deepwater landings rose sharply around the turn of the millennium and subsequently decreased rapidly, this was mainly driven by the boom and bust cycle of the orange roughy fishery. The rise in industrial landings around 2005 is related to the expansion of the blue whiting fishery. The decline since 2005 relates to decreased fishing opportunities for this stock; this species is now primarily landed for human consumption. Elasmobranch landings have also decreased in recent years reflecting restricted fishing opportunities for many of these species which can be vulnerable given their relatively low productivity. The decline in demersals and small pelagics is less pronounced reflecting the varying fortunes of the stocks in these categories. It can be clearly seen that proportionately more demersal fish than pelagic fish are landed by foreign vessels into Ireland. Landings by Irish vessels abroad are primarily in the Small Pelagics and Industrial groups, they are dominated by landings of mackerel to Norway & United Kingdom. blue whiting to the Netherlands & Denmark and boarfish to the Faeroe Islands.

13 Fishing Trends

Landings into Irish and Foreign Ports by Irish Vessels. A summary of total landings by Irish vessels in 2007 is given in Table 2.1.1 Killybegs has the highest landings of all fish species which are dominated by small pelagics (41% horse mackerel & 34% mackerel). Dunmore East has the highest landings of demersal species dominated by whiting (approximately 50%). Irish vessels land a considerable volume of fish into foreign ports (approx. 28% of total landings) and these comprise mainly of small pelagics. Table 2.1.2 outlines the landings by non Irish flag vessels into Ireland, nearly 70% of these landings into Killybegs were of blue whiting, while hake and monkfish accounted for approximately 36% and 22% respectively of the demersal landings into Castletownbere.

Table 2.1.1 Total Landings in Tonnes By Irish Vessels by Port by Species Category for all waters in 2007. Source Irish logbook database.

Small Large Pelagics Grand Port Pelagics Industrial Demersal Shellfish Deepwater Elasmobranchs & Tunas Total Killybegs 62,682 21,158 1,679 577 255 127 ‐ 86,478 Foreign Ports 33,189 24,082 727 1,637 88 65 29 59,817 Castletownbere 7,000 3,280 3,077 740 40 194 403 14,734 Dunmore East 860 ‐ 5,543 1,846 ‐ 143 ‐ 8,392 Dingle 3,598 220 739 286 109 120 72 5,143 Ringaskiddy 4,046 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 4,046 Howth 0 ‐ 1,007 2,377 0 365 0 3,750 Ros A Mhil 1,385 5 806 1,382 1 127 32 3,739 Kilmore Quay 3 ‐ 1,262 1,131 ‐ 220 ‐ 2,615 Union Hall 2 ‐ 1,086 778 ‐ 40 24 1,929 Greencastle 8 ‐ 1,455 319 5 128 ‐ 1,915 Baltimore 1,067 ‐ 420 167 0 25 42 1,722 Arklow 2 ‐ 43 1,272 ‐ 42 ‐ 1,359 Wicklow 3 ‐ 3 1,340 ‐ 4 ‐ 1,350 Downings ‐ ‐ 1,271 ‐ ‐ ‐ 1,271 Kinsale 3 ‐ 951 230 ‐ 16 ‐ 1,200 Clogherhead ‐ ‐ 226 937 0 20 ‐ 1,183 Rosslare ‐ ‐ 673 145 ‐ 288 ‐ 1,105 Skerries 0 ‐ 73 848 ‐ 3 ‐ 924 Crosshaven 3 ‐ 749 124 ‐ 19 ‐ 894 Glengad ‐ ‐ 1 869 ‐ ‐ ‐ 870 Malin Head ‐ ‐ ‐ 808 ‐ ‐ ‐ 808 Cobh 104 ‐ 262 244 ‐ 25 ‐ 635 Schull 0 ‐ 355 106 ‐ 46 ‐ 506 Porturlin/Portacloy 6 ‐ 1 428 ‐ 21 ‐ 456 Fenit ‐ ‐ 124 33 183 69 ‐ 409 Annagassan ‐ ‐ ‐ 381 ‐ ‐ ‐ 381 Duncannon/St.Helens ‐ ‐ 101 260 ‐ 7 ‐ 369 Dundalk ‐ ‐ ‐ 354 ‐ ‐ ‐ 354 REST OF IRELAND PORTS 437 0 807 3,875 2 366 ‐ 5,487 114,397 48,746 22,170 24,765 684 2,477 602 213,842

Table 2.1.2 Landings into Irish Ports by Non Irish Flag Vessels over 10 meters in 2007. Source Irish logbook database Small Large Pelagics & Grand Port Pelagics Industrial Demersal Shellfish Deepwater Elasmobranchs Tunas Total Killybegs 1,644 13,527 3,561 184 190 135 ‐ 19,241 Castletownbere 49 ‐ 7,213 278 194 274 54 8,062 Dingle 112 ‐ 2,954 131 156 68 16 3,437 Rathmullan ‐ ‐ ‐ 962 ‐ ‐ ‐ 962 REST OF IRELAND PORTS ‐ ‐ 57 19 ‐ 17 ‐ 93 1,805 13,527 13,784 1,575 541 494 70 31,796

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2.2 Geographic Origin of Irish Landings for Key Species

This section gives an overview of where different fish and shellfish species of importance in Irish fisheries are caught in the waters around Ireland. Maps of the spatial distribution of the landings were created by linking data from the Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) to daily logbook records of the landings. This was done by selecting VMS positions which were likely to be associated to fishing activity using thresholds for vessel speed and changes in course. Next, the daily catch records were assigned equally to these VMS records of each vessel on each day. The maps clearly show patterns in the spatial distribution of the landings, however they should not be over-interpreted because inaccuracies can arise for the following reasons: • Some VMS positions may have been wrongly identified as corresponding to fishing activity, only the vessel’s position, speed and course are known. • The exact location of the catches is unknown because the catch data are only available on a daily basis while the VMS positions are generally transmitted every 2 hours • There is no requirement for vessels under 15m in total length have VMS • Because of mis-matches between the VMS and logbook databases, not all landings (of >15m vessels) could be assigned to VMS records • Discarded catches are not included, only the retained catch is reported in the logbooks

Figures 2.2.1 to 2.2.4 show where the landings of key species originate from: • Blue whiting are mainly caught along the edge of the continental shelf, north of the Porcupine bank. • Cod are caught in most areas around Ireland with highest concentrations of catches in the Celtic Sea. • Haddock catches are widely distributed on the continental shelf around Ireland as well as around Rockall. • Hake are mainly caught in medium to deep waters along the continental slope west of Ireland. • Herring are mainly caught inshore along the Irish coasts. • Horse mackerel are mainly caught towards the shelf break (200m) the north-west coast of Ireland. • Ling are mainly caught in the Celtic Seas and along the shelf edge. • Mackerel are mainly caught along the 200m depth contour. • Megrim are mainly caught at medium depths on the shelf in most areas except the Irish Sea. • Monkfish are mainly caught along the 200m depth contour and in the Celtic Sea. • Nephrops are caught in localised areas on “muddy patches” in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, West of Aran and on the Porcupine bank. • Plaice are mainly caught in shallow water in the Irish and Celtic Seas. • Rays and skates in most areas around Ireland but the highest concentrations of catches are from the Irish Sea. • Black sole are mainly caught in areas targeted by beam trawls in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea. • Tunas are mainly landed from offshore areas to the south-west of Ireland in the Porcupine Seabight. • Whiting are mainly caught to the south of Ireland in the Celtic Sea.

Different species have different distributions for a variety of reason (habitat preference, food availability, preferred depth or temperature ranges to name a few) and these may also vary throughout the year or over their lives. In most cases, the distribution of the catches reflects the species distribution but fishing effort may be restricted by bottom type and/or confounded by multiple species targeting. A diverse range of Irish and international fisheries have evolved using different gears to exploit these resources in both single species and mixed fisheries throughout Irish waters. An overview of these is given in Section 3 Fleet Activity.

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Figure 2.2.1 Approximate distribution of the landings of Irish vessels >15m over the period 2006-8. The landings are expressed as liveweight (kg) per square nautical mile. Source: VSM database and Irish Logbooks database.

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Figure 2.2.2 Approximate distribution of the landings of Irish vessels >15m over the period 2006-8. The landings are expressed as liveweight (kg) per square nautical mile. Source: VSM database and Irish Logbooks database.

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Figure 2.2.3 Approximate distribution of the landings of Irish vessels >15m over the period 2006-8. The landings are expressed as liveweight (kg) per square nautical mile. Source: VSM database and Irish Logbooks database.

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Figure 2.2.4 Approximate distribution of the landings of Irish vessels >15m over the period 2006-8. The landings are expressed as liveweight (kg) per square nautical mile. Source: VSM database and Irish Logbooks database.

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2.3 Landings Trends by Irish and International Fleets from the Waters Around Ireland (Sub-areas VI and VII, excluding VIId and VIIe)

Introduction Official landings data are reported to ICES for all species, areas, years and countries in the North-eastern Atlantic between 1973-2007 (http://www.ices.dk/fish/statlant.asp). The official data may vary somewhat from the best estimates used in ICES stock assessments, where more accurate data is sometimes provided by national scientists.

2007 Landings Irish vessels mainly operate in two areas; Sub-area VI (from north of Scotland to south Donegal) and Sub-area VII (south Donegal Bay to Brittany, excluding the English Channel (Division VIId and VIIe)). Other international fleets, mainly from France, Spain, UK, Netherlands, Norway also operate in this area. Total international landings for 2007, by each country, for the top 5 to 10 species are presented in Table 2.3.1 & Table 2.3.2.

Sub-area VI (see Figure 3 page 5) In Sub-area VI, a total of 814,430 tonnes of all fish species were landed in 2007. Overall, Ireland took 8.3% of these landings but the percentage varied considerably depending on the species (Horse Mackerel 83%; Crab 44%; Megrim 22%, Herring 34%, Cod 17%, Haddock 15%, Monkfish 12%, Mackerel 11%, Blue Whiting 1%). (Table 2.3.1)

Sub-area VII, excluding VIId and VIIe (see Figure 3 page 5) In Sub-area VIIa,b,c,f,g,h,j,k, a total of 740,260 tonnes of all fish species were landed in 2007. Overall, Ireland took 17.9% of these landings but the percentage varied considerably depending on the species (Prawns 48%, Mackerel 50%; Herring 59%; Whiting 66%; Haddock 35%; Cod 33%; Monkfish 16%, Hake 9%). (Table 2.3.2)

Ireland Percentage Of Landings The Irish percentage of total landings from Sub-areas VI and VII (excluding the channel) from 1973-2007 are shown in Figure 2.3.1. Data prior to 1973 are not available for the Sub-areas. In 1973, Ireland had 9% of the landings in Sub- areas VI and VII (excluding VIId,e). This percentage shows an increasing trend up to 1995 where it reached a maximum of 25%. Thereafter there is a declining trend to about 13% in 2007. The reasons for these fluctuations are complex (e.g. changes in fishing patterns and quota allocations). These trends are also dominated by large volume fisheries. The decline in Irish landings percentage since 1995 is largely due to the expansion of the blue whiting fishery in VI and VII (from ~400kt in 1995 to ~1000kt in 2007) coupled with the relatively small TAC share (~3.5%) Ireland has for that stock.

Landings from the waters around Ireland since 1973 The landings from various ICES areas around Ireland for international fleets over time are given in Figure 2.3.2.

The West of Scotland (VIa) accounts for the highest volumes of landings by both international and Irish fleets over time. Total landings peaked in the mid 1980s and show a declining trend since then. This is primarily due to decreases in horse mackerel and herring stocks and a change in the fishing pattern for mackerel (with less of the overall catch coming from VIa).

Landings from VIb (Rockall) and VIIbc (West of Ireland) have increased markedly in the last decade. This is mainly due to the expansion of the fishery for blue whiting. This was initially an industrial fishery for meal and oil, but increasing proportions of the catch are now landed for human consumption. This stock is declining again due to a series of weak recruitments.

Landings from VIIf,g,h,j,k (The Celtic Sea) were high in the mid 1970s with a large (mainly Russian) fishery for mackerel and horse mackerel SW of Ireland. This fishery reduced in 1977. Landings after that in show an increasing trend up to the early 2000s, mainly cause by the expansion of deep water and shellfish fisheries in the late 1990s. Thereafter landings show a declining trend.

Landings from VIIa (The Irish Sea) have always been relatively low compared with other areas. These show a declining trend over time and in recent years are less than half those observed at the start of the time series.

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Table 2.3.1 Landings by species and country in 2007 from ICES Sub-area VI (Data from ICES Statlant 2007)

Top 4 small pelagic and industrial species by landings weight (tonnes).

County Atlantic herring Atlantic horse mackerel Atlantic mackerel Blue whiting Belgium0 000 Denmark 0 0 0 4,775 Estonia 0 0 0 0 Faeroe Islands 991 0 1,100 94,793 Finland0 000 France 703 0 3,744 5,928 Germany 1,750 1,834 11,700 20,816 Iceland 0 0 0 0 Lithuania 0 80 0 540 Netherlands 8,037 1,790 9,837 45,015 Norway 0 2 8 255,024 Poland 0 0 276 6,426 Portugal 0 0 0 0 Russian Federation 0 0 0 71,886 Spain 0 0 0 567 Sweden 0 0 0 0 UK 18,238 370 73,347 24,516 Ireland 15,287 20,341 11,959 1,825 (Irish %) (34%) (83%) (11%) (0%) Grand Total 45,006 24,417 111,971 532,111

Top 10 Demersal species by landings weight (tonnes) County Monkfish Cod Hake Groundfish Haddock Ling Megrim Saithe Whiting Witch Belgium 000 0000000 Denmark 000 0000000 Estonia 000 0000000 Faeroe Islands 2 12 0 0 4 92 0 32 0 0 Finland 000 0000000 France 2,090 92 1,823 0 211 659 104 4,327 6 47 Germany222240032058010 Iceland 000 0000000 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 00000 Netherlands 0 0 64 0 0 0 0 36 0 0 Norway 8 42 0 0 100 2,515 0 377 0 0 Poland 000 0000000 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 00000 Russian Federation 1 0 0 0 1,282 500200 Spain 15 0 400 2,522 5 102 24 3 0 45 Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 00000 UK 1,734 307 1,598 148 4,423 1,197 855 1,424 426 831 Ireland 540 94 209 0 1,097 110 278 321 72 60 (Irish %) (12%) (17%) (5%) (0%) (15%) (2%) (22%) (5%) (14%) (6%) Grand Total 4,612 549 4,098 2,670 7,122 4,757 1,261 7,102 505 983

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Top 10 other species by landings weight (tonnes)

Great Black Atlantic Greater Greater Norway Roundnose County Argentine scabbardfish Blue ling Edible crab scallop argentine forkbeard lobster grenadier Tusk Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Estonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Faeroe Islands 0 46 28 0 0 0 0 0 10 44 Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 France 0 2,049 1,934 0 0 0 396 0 1,623 268 Germany0 000 0000 00 Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lithuania 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 31 0 Netherlands 3,103 0 0 0 0 3,866 0 0 0 0 Norway 0 0 35 0 0 3 186 0 0 934 Poland 0 000 0000 00 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Russian Federation 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 25 Spain 0 33 58 0 0 0 55 2 118 2 Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 UK 0 57 172 10,691 3,027 0 221 16,211 4 126 Ireland 0 0 0 8,353 0 0 8 155 2 12 (Irish %) (0%) (0%) (0%) (44%) (0%) (0%) (1%) (1%) (0%) (1%) Grand Total 3,103 2,185 2,229 19,044 3,027 3,869 868 16,368 1,788 1,411

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Table 2.3.2 Total Landings in 2007 from ICES Sub-area VII (tonnes) (Data from ICES Statlant 2007)

Top 5 small pelagic and industrial species by landings weight (tonnes).

Atlantic horse Atlantic County Atlantic herring mackerel mackerel Blue whiting Boarfishes nei Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 Denmark 0 3,986 0 36,737 0 Estonia00000 Faeroe Islands 4 0 0 69,169 0 Finland00000 France 670 6,576 1,022 9,514 0 Germany 248 3,893 1,502 13,065 0 Iceland00000 Lithuania 0 5,327 7 9,272 0 Netherlands 475 19,409 6,739 34,661 0 Norway 0 0 0 211,745 0 Poland 0 0 701 1,147 0 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 Russian Federation 0 0 0 9,656 0 Spain 0 0 0 2,574 0 Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 UK 4,808 3,367 13,155 29,061 772 Ireland 8,942 7,383 23,365 29,232 17,510 (Irish %) (59%) (15%) (50%) (6%) (96%) Grand Total 15,147 49,941 46,491 455,833 18,282

Top 10 Demersal species by landings weight (tonnes) County Monkfish Cod Conger Hake Groundfishes Haddock Ling Megrims Whiting Witch Belgium 0 0 33 13 0 148 28 193 126 0 Denmark 0 000 0000 00 Estonia 0 000 0000 00 Faeroe Islands0 000 0000 00 Finland 0 000 0000 00 France 10,342 2,177 727 5,052 0 3,569 854 2,089 2,413 424 Germany212000 0060 00 Iceland 0 000 0000 00 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Netherlands6 000 0000 00 Norway 0 100 03270 00 Poland 0 000 0000 00 Portugal 0 000 0000 00 Russian Federation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Spain 1,353 0 1,257 5,097 4,550 49 422 3,858 22 2,443 Sweden 0 000 0000 00 UK 3,426 662 289 1,920 44 745 405 1,576 73 208 Ireland 2,931 1,398 89 1,230 0 2,407 594 1,746 5,051 473 (Irish %) (16%) (33%) (4%) (9%) (0%) (35%) (25%) (18%) (66%) (13%) Grand Total 18,270 4,238 2,395 13,312 4,594 6,921 2,336 9,462 7,685 3,548

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Top 10 other species by landings weight (tonnes)

Blackbelly Cuckoo Edible Great Atlantic Norway Queen Raja rays County Albacore rosefish ray crab scallop lobster scallop nei Tangle Whelk Belgium 0 0 0 33 127 7 0 1,439 0 10 Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Estonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Faeroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 France 362 81 1,356 1,485 40 2,358 26 643 3,038 14 Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Netherlands 0 0 0 0 273 0 0 0 0 0 Norway0 000 000400 Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Russian Federation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Spain 1,597 1,839 0 2 0 345 0 331 0 0 Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 UK 13 37 0 3,470 3,863 7,083 5,585 1,404 0 5,008 Ireland 490 11 0 2,141 858 9,140 10 936 0 1,840 (Irish %) (20%) (1%) (0%) (30%) (17%) (48%) (0%) (20%) (0%) (27%) Grand Total 2,462 1,968 1,356 7,131 5,161 18,933 5,621 4,766 3,038 6,872

Irish share of total landings From VI and VII excluding the channel

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

5 7 1 3 9 1 7 9 3 5 9 0 99 99 00 1973 197 197 1979 198 198 1985 1987 198 1 1993 1995 1 19 2001 2 20 2007

Figure 2.3.1 Irish percentage of total landings from Sub-areas VI and VII excluding the channel from 1973-2007. Data prior to 1973 are not available to the Sub-area level.

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VIb VIa

1000 1000 800 800 600 600 400 400 200 200 0 0

1000 1000 800 800 VIIa 600 600 VIIc VIIb 400 400 200 200 0 0

1000 VIIg VIIf 800 VIIk 1000 600 VIIj 800 VIIe 400 VIId 600 200 400 0 VIIh 200 0

Figure 2.3.2 International (grey) and Irish (green) landings as reported to ICES since 1973 by ICES Division (Landings in tonnes. All species combined). (Note: Landings for France are not available for 1999 and 2007 and landings are grouped for VIIbc, VIIf,g,h,j,k and VIId,e). Source: ICES Statlant.

Special note; because Ireland has a relatively small share of the blue whiting TAC, the proportion of total landings by Ireland looks small in ICES areas VI and VIIbc where the tonnages of fish taken are dominated by this species.

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Trends in International Landings for Species Groups

Landings by country from Sub-areas VI and VII in 2007 by species category are given in Table 2.3.3, Ireland accounts for 17.9% of demersals, 26.5% of shellfish and 10.7% of small pelagic & industrial fisheries. The international landings for the species categories below in the ICES Divisions within Sub-area VI & VII are given in Figure 2.3.3.

Demersal Species Landings of all demersal species show a substantial declining trend since the 1970s. This is primarily driven by substantial reductions in landings of cod, whiting, saithe and haddock which traditionally dominated shelf roundfish fisheries. Landings from VIa and VIIa show the largest declines reflecting the poor state of cod and whiting. Highest landings are from the shelf area west and south of Ireland where landings from fisheries for hake, anglerfish and megrim have been stable or increasing slightly.

Shellfish Species There has been an overall increase in shellfish landings. This reflects the expansion of fisheries for Nephrops, crabs, scallops and other bivalve molluscs in both inshore and offshore areas (reporting levels may also have improved). The Irish Sea is the most important area in total volume with substantial catches of Nephrops, crabs, scallops, razors and whelks. In Division VIa the catches are dominated by Nephrops and edible crab while off the south and west coast there are various shellfish fisheries.

Deepwater Species Deepwater fisheries show an increasing trend in landings up to the late 1990s this was when French fisheries developed. The group also includes many species that are highly vulnerable to over-exploitation due to their extreme longevity, low fecundity, specialised niches or slow growth. In the early 2000s there was a rapid increase in landings when the Irish fleet got involved in the fishery. Since then landings have reduced substantially. This is partly due to a collapse in several deepwater stocks and also the introduction of TAC and quota restrictions.

Elasmobranchs Sharks and rays are collectively known as elasmobranchs. This group include many species with divergent trends in importance to landings. The group also includes many species that are highly vulnerable to over-exploitation due to their longevity, low fecundity, specialised niches or slow growth. Landings show an increasing trend up to the mid 1980s and a decline since then. This was mainly driven by a large fishery for spurdogs which developed and collapsed during this time. This overall decline in landings was temporarily been halted in the mid 1990s due to the expansion of deepwater fisheries and an associated catch of deep-sea elasmobranchs.

Large Pelagics There has been an increase in the volume of large pelagics landed since the early 1990s. This is predominantly due to the development of the albacore tuna fishery. Although now restricted from using gill nets, this fishery still provides a valuable source of income to vessels mainly from the south west coast. Some swordfish were taken as a bycatch in this fishery.

Small Pelagics Landings of small pelagics generally increased during the 1970s and 1980s peaking at around 800,000 tonnes in the mid 1990s. This was due to the increasing importance of the horse mackerel and mackerel fisheries. Since then landings have been declining due to decreases in the horse mackerel and herring stocks. The area to the north of Ireland (VIa) remains the most important area with substantial catches also occurring off the west and southwest coasts. Catches in the Irish Sea (VIIa) have been reduced, since the 1980s, mainly due to the low abundance of Irish Sea herring stock, and the closing of the industrial fishery for juvenile herring. A plot showing the development of landings for small pelagic species (including industrial species) is shown in Figure 2.3.4.

Industrial Species The industrial fishery which is dominated by blue whiting increased significantly since the mid 1990s. This reflected the increased abundance of the blue whiting stock and a significant expansion in international fisheries. The majority of the landings are from West of Scotland (VIa), Rockall (VIb) and the Porcupine Bank and West of Ireland (VIIb,c). This industrial fishery is likely to fall off in the short term due to an expected decline in the blue whiting stock. The trend in industrial species landings since 1973 is shown (along with other small pelagic species) in Figure. 2.3.4.

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400 120 Demersal Species Shellfish Species 350 100 300 80 250 200 60

150 40 100 20 Landings ('000s Tonnes) Landings ('000s Tonnes) 50 0 0 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

70 60 Deepwater Species Elasmobranch Species 60 50

50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 Landings ('000s Tonnes) Landings ('000sTonnes) 10

0 0 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

8 Large Pelagics & Tuna Species 7 VIIbc 6 VIb 5 VIIf-k

VIIa1400 1200 4 1000 800 600 400 VII 200(not specified) 3 Landings ( '000s Tonnes) 0 4 98 995 1 VIa 1973 1 2006 2 VI (not specified) Landings ('000s Tonnes) 1 0 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Figure 2.3.3 Official international landings in tonnes for Sub-areas VI & VII (excluding VIId,e) by area groupings as reported to ICES since 1973 by species category. Source: ICES Statlant.

Small Pelagics / Industrial 1600

1400 Others Blue whiting 1200 Mackerel 1000 Horse mackerel 800 Herring

600

400 Landings ('000s Tonnes) 200

0 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Figure 2.3.4 Official international landings in small pelagics and industrial species in tonnes for Sub- areas VI & VII (excluding VIId,e) by area groupings as reported to ICES since 1973 by species category. Source: ICES Statlant.

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Overall Trends Trends in International landings since 1973, both as total weight and percentage, by country category are shown in Figure 2.3.5. These data show several features; a general decline in the landings of demersal species and a general increase in the landings of shellfish species since the 1970s, the landings of small pelagics have fluctuated and generally declined since the mid 1990’s, the landings of deep water species increased and subsequently decreased rapidly around the turn of this century, the landings of industrial species have increased rapidly in the last 10 years, and the landings of elasmobranch species have decreased rapidly in the last 5 years. Ireland’s proportion of the landings of all species groups (with the exception of industrial species) has increased since the 1970s.

Demersal species by country UK Demersal species by country 400 Sweden UK Spain 100% Sweden 350 Russian Federation Spain Portugal Russian Federation Poland 300 Norway 80% Portugal Netherlands Poland 250 Lithuania Norway Iceland 60% Netherlands Germany Lithuania 200 France Finland Iceland 150 Faeroe Islands 40% Germany Landings (x'000s Tonnes) (x'000s Landings Estonia France Denmark 100 Finland Belgium 20% Faeroe Islands Ireland Estonia 50 Denmark 0% Belgium 0 Ireland 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Shellfish species by country UK Shellfish species by country 120 Sweden UK Spain 100% Sweden Russian Federation Spain 100 Portugal Russian Federation Portugal Poland 80% Norway Poland 80 Netherlands Norway Lithuania Netherlands 60% Lithuania 60 Iceland Germany Iceland France Germany

Landings (x'000s Tonnes) 40% 40 Finland France Faeroe Islands Finland Estonia Faeroe Islands 20 Denmark 20% Estonia Belgium Denmark Ireland Belgium 0 0% Ireland 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Small Pelagics & Industrial species combined by country Small Pelagics & Industrial species combined by country 1600 UK UK Sweden 100% 1400 Sweden Spain Spain Russian Federation 1200 Russian Federation Portugal 80% Poland Por tug al 1000 Norway Poland Netherlands Norway 60% Netherlands 800 Lithuania Iceland Lithuania Germany Iceland 600 France 40% Germany Landings (x'000sTonnes) Finland France 400 Faeroe Islands Finland Estonia 20% Faeroe Islands 200 Denmark Estonia Belgium Denmark 0 Ireland Belg ium 0% Ireland 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Figure 2.3.5 International landings trends in landings by country for Sub-areas VI & VII reported to ICES since 1973, both as total weight and percentage of total landings and category, note: Landings for France are not available for 1999 and 2005. Source: ICES Statlant.

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Table 2.3.3 Landings by country from Sub-areas VI and VII (excluding VIId & VIIe) in 2007, by species category. Weights in tonnes. * excluding blue mussels and pacific oyster which are partly or entirely aquaculture production. Source: ICES Statlant.

Small Pelagics & Country Demersal Shellfish Industrial Belgium 2,746 225 - Denmark 27 - 45,502 Estonia - - - Faeroe Islands 160 1 166,114 Finland - - - France 41,395 5,738 28,252 Germany 1,078 247 54,808 Iceland - - - Ireland 21,569 25,206* 139,868 Lithuania 1 - 15,226 Netherlands 106 274 125,973 Norway 3,098 - 466,779 Poland - - 8,550 Portugal - - - Russian Federation 1,336 - 81,542 Spain 23,403 2,764 3,415 Sweden - - - UK 25,348 60,537 168,852 Total 120,267 94,922 1,304,881

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2.4 Landings Trends by Irish and International Fleets excluding the Waters Around Ireland

ICES Sub-areas VI and VII (excluding VIId and VIIe) are the two Sub-areas that surround the Irish coast, and are from where most Irish catches are taken. However, Irish vessels also fish outside these Sub-areas, either within the ICES area (e.g. in Sub-area IV for mackerel), and/or outside the NE Atlantic (e.g. for sardinella off the West African coast).

For the purpose of this atlas the ICES area and the rest of the Atlantic will be examined separately.

Irish landings from the NE Atlantic (excluding the waters around Ireland)

Landings data from these areas are available from 1973-2007. Irish vessels have fished in all ICES Sub-areas, but in many cases, such as Area III, the Baltic, these catches have been minimal or occasional.

Figure 2.4.1 shows the total landings by Irish vessels from outside Sub-areas VI and VIIa-c,f-j., while Table 2.4.1 details the weights of these fish each year and each Sub-area. Table 2.4.2 compares the Irish proportion of the catch with the total catch in each area, by species category. These tables show that the Irish catches of each fish category are a very small (normally <1%) proportion of the total catch in the NE Atlantic outside of local waters. Figure 2.4.2 and Table 2.4.3 show the catches by the main countries in these areas.

Table 2.4.4 shows the two most common species landed by Irish vessels from each of the ICES Sub-areas each year from 1973-2007. These are calculated by looking at the total weights from 1973-2007. The most common species may vary on an annual basis. Therefore Table 2.4.5 shows the proportion of species caught by Irish vessels in each of these Sub-areas in 2007, the most recent year for which data are available.

Irish landings from outside the NE Atlantic

The weights of Irish landings from outside of the NE Atlantic are recorded in various databases, mainly maintained by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome. Total catches by country from 1950 onwards are stored in the CAPROD database. However this only reports landings by oceanic area and does not give smaller-scale resolution.

The status of Ireland in each of the regional databases is outlined below:

Mediterranean and Black Seas: Ireland is listed as a catching country, but there are no records when searched.

Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF): There are Irish data from 2001 – 2005. There are no records of Irish catches in 2006 or 2007.

NAFO area (NW Atlantic): There are no Irish catches recorded outside the already declared 1975-1979 period, but the total catch is approximately 200 t higher than CAPROD database.

SE Atlantic: Ireland is not listed as a catching country.

Western Central Atlantic: No regional database is available.

There have been two periods where Irish vessels landed significant quantities of fish outside of the NE Atlantic (Figure 2.4.3). The first was from 1975-1979 when an unknown number of vessels caught various demersal species, primarily squid, but also butterfish, cod and silvery hake in the NW Atlantic region. In 1979 2,600 t of redfish were declared in this area. Then, from 2001 to 2005 a small number of vessels fished for pelagic species such as sardinella and horse mackerel off Mauritania.

Irish logbook data show that Irish vessels have landed into 13 countries since 2002 (Table 2.4.6). These include ports in Europe, Africa and South America. Catches from the CECAF area, landed into Africa, the Canary Islands, or South America (Peru) are detailed in Table 2.4.7. VMS data (see Section 3- Figure 3.2) shows Irish vessel activity in this area in 2006 and 2007, but no landings have been reported. It is expected that Irish vessels will continue to target fisheries in these areas, and may expand to new areas, such as the Pacific.

30 Fishing Trends

Landings by Ireland in the NE Atlantic, excluding ICEs sub-areas VI and VIIa-c,f-j

40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Landings (tonnes) Landings 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 Year

Figure 2.4.1 Total Irish landings (tonnes) of fish caught in the NE Atlantic, excluding Sub-areas VI and VIIa-c,f-j. Source: ICES Statlant. No data is available for certain years.

31 Fishing Trends

Table 2.4.1 Irish landings by Sub-area, NE Atlantic, excluding VI and VIIa-c,f-j. Landings in tonnes. Source: ICES Statlant. Complete data are not available for 1988 and 1990.

Sub-area 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 I------II ------1,731 812 - - - III ------IV - - - 1,448 1,321 571 64 1,899 3,894 - - - V- - - 160 ------VIId,e - - - - 1,490 3,104 - 918 - - - - VIII ------IX ------X------XII ------XIV ------Unknown - - - - 206 ------1,608 3,017 3,675 64 4,548 4,706 - - -

Sub-area 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 I------15 - - II ------612 1,039 20,380 III ------IV - - - - 2,482 - 13,700 13,136 17,654 10,079 5,827 6,327 V------VIId,e - - - - - 29 52 42 1 17 26 1,888 VIII - - - - 5 - - 251 1,923 - - 375 IX ------X------XII ------XIV ------Unknown 1,602 1,764 1,468 - 25,337 - - 89 4,095 3,033 6,696 1,522 1,602 1,764 1,468 - 27,824 - 13,752 13,518 23,673 13,756 13,588 30,492

Sub-area 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 I------248 150 126 - 46 II 12,941 3,415 3,049 9,288 4,725 2,080 1,493 99 190 5,148 6,826 III ------IV 9,088 413 12,148 10,125 15,456 21,589 17,325 19,002 17,065 7,280 14,670 V- - 100 - 8 - 513 2,124 560 - 372 VIId,e 2,763 4,347 1,899 9,191 6,560 6,231 3,110 1,039 356 649 537 VIII - - 3 7,962 1,881 3,882 4,448 5,826 5,344 1,716 1,367 IX ------2 - - - - X------34 - - - XII - - - - 399 2 1,653 - 3 - - XIV - - - - 8 ------Unknown 2,683 874 771 - - 22 - - - 1 - 27,475 9,049 17,970 36,566 29,037 33,806 28,792 28,274 23,644 14,794 23,818

32 Fishing Trends

Table 2.4.2 Total landings within the ICES area, excluding Sub-areas VI and VIIa-c,f-j, by country and species category. Source: ICES Statlant. Demersal Small Pelagics Total Landings Irish Landings Irish Percentage Total Landings Irish Landings Irish Percentage 1973 3708300 0 0.0% 4419076 0 0.0% 1974 3999372 0 0.0% 3913365 0 0.0% 1975 3617649 0 0.0% 4558688 0 0.0% 1976 3805168 273 0.0% 5523440 0 0.0% 1977 3346401 390 0.0% 5886935 1460 0.0% 1978 2984970 595 0.0% 5068454 3076 0.1% 1979 2844920 64 0.0% 4889040 0 0.0% 1980 2891193 66 0.0% 4413059 4477 0.1% 1981 3109867 5 0.0% 4410175 1957 0.0% 1982 2985221 0 0.0% 3502750 0 0.0% 1983 2708458 0 0.0% 4270310 0 0.0% 1984 2734771 0 0.0% 4321114 0 0.0% 1985 2648509 0 0.0% 4099473 0 0.0% 1986 2612178 0 0.0% 3298010 0 0.0% 1987 2745970 0 0.0% 3111675 0 0.0% 1988 2549163 0 0.0% 3311543 0 0.0% 1989 2213937 5 0.0% 3002433 27819 0.9% 1990 1983200 29 0.0% 2886791 0 0.0% 1991 2004896 52 0.0% 3255520 13700 0.4% 1992 2009308 42 0.0% 4439549 13136 0.3% 1993 2136389 1 0.0% 4356447 17654 0.4% 1994 2370963 614 0.0% 3930793 10079 0.3% 1995 2407517 1046 0.0% 4206935 5827 0.1% 1996 2397060 1762 0.1% 5116908 23008 0.4% 1997 2450475 844 0.0% 4781561 28122 0.6% 1998 2167810 951 0.0% 4404499 7163 0.2% 1999 2050386 620 0.0% 4363051 16108 0.4% 2000 1810576 366 0.0% 4865548 36112 0.7% 2001 1823501 316 0.0% 4626429 28049 0.6% 2002 1845696 321 0.0% 4880559 32371 0.7% 2003 1816383 353 0.0% 3983263 26067 0.7% 2004 1900975 279 0.0% 3668605 24902 0.7% 2005 1881144 309 0.0% 4049686 22154 0.5% 2006 1945878 410 0.0% 3348622 13396 0.4% 2007 1857177 428 0.0% 3680001 22200 0.6%

Shellfish Large Pelagics and Tunas Total Landings Irish Landings Irish Percentage Total Landings Irish Landings Irish Percentage 1973 634235 0 0.0% 42953 0 0.0% 1974 602944 0 0.0% 49064 0 0.0% 1975 627427 0 0.0% 54189 0 0.0% 1976 567899 0 0.0% 34246 0 0.0% 1977 589816 4 0.0% 46799 0 0.0% 1978 618594 2 0.0% 44184 0 0.0% 1979 597206 0 0.0% 22525 0 0.0% 1980 705552 3 0.0% 45123 0 0.0% 1981 693578 0 0.0% 35225 0 0.0% 1982 640824 0 0.0% 41135 0 0.0% 1983 572741 0 0.0% 47374 0 0.0% 1984 590057 0 0.0% 34114 0 0.0% 1985 601433 0 0.0% 42429 0 0.0% 1986 436106 0 0.0% 55454 0 0.0% 1987 485683 0 0.0% 56627 0 0.0% 1988 487772 0 0.0% 56042 0 0.0% 1989 461251 0 0.0% 47673 0 0.0% 1990 484738 0 0.0% 49406 0 0.0% 1991 500253 0 0.0% 40968 0 0.0% 1992 555792 89 0.0% 43072 251 0.6% 1993 416506 4095 1.0% 56009 1923 3.4% 1994 495958 3033 0.6% 46016 0 0.0% 1995 526961 4556 0.9% 48039 0 0.0% 1996 523372 1963 0.4% 33694 0 0.0% 1997 458585 1372 0.3% 41397 0 0.0% 1998 545463 0 0.0% 34105 0 0.0% 1999 540338 0 0.0% 35012 3 0.0% 2000 529417 11 0.0% 57609 0 0.0% 2001 483184 129 0.0% 39920 27 0.1% 2002 468624 71 0.0% 25075 802 3.2% 2003 443071 488 0.1% 24250 214 0.9% 2004 453814 521 0.1% 28112 54 0.2% 2005 411677 431 0.1% 47715 169 0.4% 2006 388378 581 0.1% 65742 358 0.5% 2007 406695 1041 0.3% 38160 66 0.2%

33 Fishing Trends

Total landings from ICES Area, excluding waters around Ireland

14

12 Denmark Faeroe Islands 10 France Iceland 8 Norway Russia

6 Spain UK Others 4 Ireland

2 Landings (Million Tonnes)

- 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year

Figure 2.4.2 Total landings within the ICES area, excluding Sub-areas VI and VIIa-c,f-j, by country. Source: ICES Statlant.

Table 2.4.3 Total landings within the ICES area, excluding Sub-areas VI and VII, by country. Source: ICES Statlant.

1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 UK 820,405 803,615 725,698 785,305 765,012 758,405 637,543 567,556 518,935 521,560 514,214 457,021 Spain 533,691 468,715 508,604 492,131 502,405 497,051 454,256 456,707 393,416 518,618 489,026 504,155 Russia 1,503,378 1,783,478 1,961,950 2,120,593 1,956,161 1,727,755 1,937,413 1,988,371 1,816,398 1,433,221 1,533,811 1,360,028 Norway 2,635,956 2,365,990 2,394,429 3,286,907 3,403,520 2,587,875 2,631,364 2,279,938 2,408,096 2,309,298 2,617,993 2,192,395 Ireland - - - 1,608 3,017 3,675 64 4,548 4,706 - - - Iceland 905,491 937,502 964,883 973,526 1,370,558 1,578,118 1,660,618 1,524,276 1,449,434 801,322 854,577 1,551,203 France 471,457 492,864 527,128 491,726 492,256 527,365 522,235 538,343 493,447 511,380 392,734 378,868 Faeroe Islands 205,454 207,915 256,051 295,522 264,597 250,635 213,656 224,980 223,415 200,333 269,262 273,625 Denmark 1,448,846 1,821,286 1,748,533 1,887,690 1,773,317 1,693,434 1,679,663 1,966,589 1,800,335 1,859,963 1,798,301 1,794,883 Others 1,612,704 1,733,225 1,706,164 1,592,494 1,444,084 1,375,673 1,317,227 1,371,186 1,411,345 1,292,867 1,281,970 1,364,625 10,137,382 10,614,590 10,793,440 11,927,502 11,974,927 10,999,986 11,054,039 10,922,494 10,519,527 9,448,562 9,751,888 9,876,803

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 UK 485,044 486,305 497,071 453,952 427,424 386,637 432,561 439,241 459,586 489,899 503,486 494,863 Spain 458,288 332,478 345,786 337,473 286,246 288,757 278,501 298,891 318,681 302,608 336,447 341,878 Russia 1,220,423 968,605 886,712 735,597 616,415 505,035 828,241 970,325 824,739 701,323 732,195 772,363 Norway 1,852,453 1,561,994 1,672,591 1,533,015 1,487,573 1,292,306 1,867,560 2,263,160 2,187,189 2,117,873 2,262,834 2,319,651 Ireland 1,602 1,764 1,468 - 27,824 29 13,752 13,518 23,673 13,756 13,588 30,492 Iceland 1,694,925 1,667,890 1,643,739 1,772,436 1,518,508 1,521,201 1,055,939 1,581,865 1,723,685 1,567,476 1,615,129 2,053,004 France 367,774 377,471 346,462 438,387 355,279 352,155 325,031 330,408 295,981 314,050 329,144 319,474 Faeroe Islands 311,895 287,599 317,876 291,485 223,958 223,879 204,538 221,720 212,945 203,195 252,050 263,335 Denmark 1,708,742 1,787,724 1,620,104 1,910,674 1,836,941 1,450,658 1,740,969 1,932,350 1,482,627 1,825,689 1,967,282 1,649,532 Others 1,331,858 1,244,154 1,193,033 1,251,338 1,253,226 1,206,924 1,233,544 1,344,334 1,409,831 1,422,938 1,537,969 1,465,060 9,433,004 8,715,984 8,524,842 8,724,357 8,033,394 7,227,581 7,980,636 9,395,812 8,938,937 8,958,807 9,550,124 9,709,652

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 UK 487,527 460,283 428,491 404,444 373,427 367,028 337,088 358,145 326,582 340,066 338,769 Spain 423,323 427,540 383,598 366,761 417,233 278,299 283,362 262,724 292,098 336,750 287,519 Russia 829,554 728,604 826,520 941,771 1,025,592 1,089,322 935,119 817,825 843,692 829,444 774,895 Norway 2,559,573 2,354,366 2,207,718 2,266,525 2,402,848 2,363,204 2,033,299 2,010,124 1,796,781 1,717,535 1,862,780 Ireland 27,475 9,049 17,970 36,566 29,038 33,806 28,792 28,274 23,644 14,794 23,820 Iceland 2,216,857 1,692,684 1,734,633 1,968,842 1,995,846 2,137,583 1,987,949 1,737,020 1,649,496 1,276,083 1,399,027 France 334,487 303,947 465,379 372,848 377,005 389,012 382,627 367,121 322,904 334,062 323,536 Faeroe Islands 300,928 336,179 291,536 445,856 452,505 490,728 547,707 498,014 472,772 453,512 410,987 Denmark 1,758,059 1,503,368 1,364,454 1,514,847 1,495,985 1,429,754 1,016,149 1,069,570 887,833 812,721 604,052 Others 1,461,760 1,523,305 1,435,515 1,387,028 1,363,591 1,323,429 1,347,631 1,382,065 1,392,666 1,346,040 1,297,625 10,399,543 9,339,325 9,155,814 9,705,488 9,933,070 9,902,165 8,899,723 8,530,882 8,008,468 7,461,007 7,323,010

34 Fishing Trends

Table 2.4.4 The two most common species landed from each of the ICES Sub-areas each year from 1973-2007. Sub-area I Sub-area II Sub-area IV Sub-area V Cod Haddock Cod Herring Horse Mackerel Mackerel Mackerel Blue Whiting 1973 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1974 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1975 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1976 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 160 1977 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1978 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1979 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1980 0 0 0 0 1161 738 0 0 1981 0 0 0 0 412 733 0 0 1982 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1983 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1984 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1985 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1986 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1987 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1988 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1989 0 0 0 0 0 2482 0 0 1990 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1991 0 0 0 0 2050 11650 0 0 1992 0 0 0 0 0 13136 0 0 1993 0 0 0 0 4469 13185 0 0 1994 12 0 579 0 1071 9008 0 0 1995 0 0 954 0 220 5607 0 0 1996 0 0 790 19543 1137 5190 0 0 1997 0 0 1595 11179 8807 281 0 0 1998 0 0 853 2437 0 396 0 0 1999 0 0 552 2414 404 11293 100 0 2000 0 0 323 8940 103 9956 0 0 2001 0 0 254 4413 555 14798 0 0 2002 0 0 278 1699 72 20715 0 0 2003 218 17 81 1401 93 17145 495 0 2004 116 31 94 0 379 18444 471 1653 2005 109 13 140 0 1191 14374 0 560 2006 0 0 323 4693 2077 4525 0 0 2007 40 0 257 6411 651 12763 0 0

Divisions VIId,e Sub-area VIII Sub-area X Sub-area XII Horse Mackerel Pilchard Horse Mackerel Mackerel Cardinal fish Orange Roughy Blue Whiting Orange Roughy 1973 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1974 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1975 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1976 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1977 1133 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1978 2671 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1979 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1980 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1981 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1982 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1983 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1984 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1985 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1986 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1987 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1988 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1989 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1990 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1991 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1993 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1994 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1996 625 0 375 0 0 0 0 0 1997 2741 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 4197 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1999 525 820 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 5108 2238 6485 1314 0 0 0 0 2001 2951 2077 1515 319 0 0 231 0 2002 99 4055 684 2137 0 0 0 0 2003 149 1637 1314 961 0 0 1509 136 2004 0 128 1882 1657 15 19 0 0 2005 0 0 2000 2157 0 0 0 0 2006 0 639 158 1150 0 0 0 0 2007 516 0 695 601 0 0 0 0

35 Fishing Trends

Table 2.4.5 The main species landed by Irish vessels from ICES Sub-areas excluding VI and VIIa-c.f-j in 2007, by proportion of the landings in each area.

Area Albacore Cod Edible crab Haddock Herring I 0.0% 87.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% II 0.0% 3.8% 0.0% 1.3% 93.9% IV 0.0% 0.0% 7.0% 0.0% 1.3% V0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0% VIId,e 0.0% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% VIII 4.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Area Horse mackerel Mackerel Plaice Others I 0.0% 0.0% 13.0% 0.0% II 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.9% IV 4.4% 87.0% 0.0% 0.3% V 98.4% 0.0% 0.0% 1.6% VIId,e 96.1% 0.0% 0.0% 3.5% VIII 50.8% 44.0% 0.0% 0.4%

Irish landings outside NE Atlantic

80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 Landings (tonnes) 0 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 Year

Figure 2.4.3 Total Irish landings (tonnes) of fish caught outside Area 27. Source FAO: Capture Production database.

36 Fishing Trends

Table 2.4.6 Irish landings into foreign ports. Source: Irish logbook database

Country 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008* Belgium 2 82 39 - - - Denmark - 4,007 7,296 6,122 6,413 2,530 Faeroe Islands 6,055 6,782 - 1,635 3,532 10,169 France 10,173 7,638 5,668 3,318 3,703 3,616 Iceland - 4,108 2,034 1,161 1 - Mauritania 1,561 4,025 5,391 - - - Morocco 11,842 1,985 - - - 12 Netherlands 18,626 19,983 20,577 14,107 7,349 3,877 Norway 10,339 20,938 16,240 10,769 20,631 19,007 Peru - - - 30,892 - - Portugal - - 0 - - - Spain 21,129 30,676 22,601 372 357 2,173 United Kingdom 12,294 17,090 16,788 20,001 17,832 11,222 Total: 92,022 117,313 96,634 88,379 59,817 52,605 *Data from 2008 are provisional

Table 2.4.7 Irish catches and species in the CECAF area. Weights in tonnes. Data available 2001-2005 only. Source: FAO CECAF database.

Species Area 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Atlantic bonito Tunas (CECAF area) 188 48 Black scabbardfish Cape Verde coastal 27 13 Black scabbardfish Sahara coastal 121 108 Chub mackerel Cape Verde coastal 944 2,131 2,986 330 307 Chub mackerel Sahara coastal 5,191 2,342 2,874 474 15 European pilchard(=Sardine) Cape Verde coastal 3,425 6,082 400 2,266 5,552 European pilchard(=Sardine) Sahara coastal 1,955 253 4,780 8,276 1,223 Jack and horse mackerels nei Cape Verde coastal 1,033 2,236 755 1,043 1,293 Jack and horse mackerels nei Sahara coastal 7,489 1,175 351 637 109 Largehead hairtail Cape Verde coastal 253 40 55 Largehead hairtail Sahara coastal 35 29 Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj) Tunas (CECAF area) 14 3 Marine fishes nei Cape Verde coastal 236 118 92 62 49 Marine fishes nei Sahara coastal 189 387 164 788 153 Plain bonito Tunas (CECAF area) 24 Sardinellas nei Cape Verde coastal 33,470 8,020 7,089 6,318 8,273 Sardinellas nei Sahara coastal 19,510 16,532 13,675 13,333 15,811 Skipjack tuna Tunas (CECAF area) 10 Tuna-like fishes nei Tunas (CECAF area) 122 Total: 73,695 39,351 33,438 33,737 33,065

37 Fishing Trends

Section 3 – Fleet Activity

Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) are used to monitor the activities of fishing vessels. Since January 2005, all EU fishing vessels over 15 meters in length are required to transmit their position via satellite at least every 2 hours. Ireland receives all VMS records from foreign fishing vessels within the Irish EEZ and all VMS data from Irish Vessels (inside and outsize the EEZ). The daily catch records from Irish skipper’s logbooks were linked to VMS data to obtain the approximate catch composition for each VMS position. Data on vessel power were obtained from the EU fleet register (http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/fleet)

Note that no VMS data are available for vessels under 15m. There are a significant number of small vessels operating around Ireland but the total landings of TAC regulated species, by these vessels, are relatively small. It is also important to note that international VMS data are only available to Ireland inside the Irish EEZ. The figures below can therefore not be compared directly to figures relating to ICES Sub-areas VI and VII that are reported elsewhere in this document.

Irish Effort in the North-East Atlantic Figure 3.1 shows that the vast majority of Irish fishing effort of vessels >15m takes place within the Irish EEZ, most of the effort outside the EEZ is still within ICES areas VI and VII. A small number of vessels have fished in ICES Sub-areas IV (North Sea), VIII (Biscay), I and II (Norwegian and Barents Seas), the CECAF area (west of Africa) and the Mediterranean. Figure 3.2 shows a map of the distribution of fishing effort in the North-East Atlantic.

Irish Effort around Ireland The spatial distribution of effort (fishing days) for four groups of target species is shown in Figures 3.3 to 3.6. The majority of Irish fishing effort is directed towards Nephrops fisheries. Nephrops directed effort is concentrated on the main Nephrops grounds in the Western Irish Sea, the Smalls, the Aran grounds and the Porcupine bank. In the Celtic Sea, Stanton Bank, Donegal Bay and off the South coast there are also Nephrops trawl fisheries on smaller mud patches. Demersal effort is the second most important, with concentrations of effort on grounds in the Celtic Sea, Stanton Bank, along the western slope, Donegal Bay and in the Irish Sea. Pelagic effort is concentrated along the south cast in Donegal Bay and off the continental shelf to the west and Northwest of Ireland. Deepwater effort is concentrated west of Achill Island and around the margins of the Porcupine Bank.

The time series of Irish fishing effort by the main gear groups and ICES Sub-division is shown in Figure 3.7. Please note that the scale used (in kw.days) differs between areas. The trends vary by both area and gear type. There has been a sharp decline in effort in Divisions VIa and VIIde, while effort in VIIa has remained fairly stable over time. Otter trawl effort has either declined or remained stable with the exception of the Celtic Sea (VIIf,g,h,j,k) which has seen a marked increase in effort and following a sharp decline in otter trawl effort in Rockall (VIb), otter trawl effort has increased since 2005.

International Effort inside the Irish EEZ The distribution of effort within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was analysed based, on the number of vessel-days and KW-days by vessel nationality. Figures 3.8 and 3.9 show that distribution of effort is relatively constant over the three years examined. Irish vessels spend on average around 25,000 vessel-days at sea per year (34% of all effort in the EEZ). Spanish vessels spend a similar number of vessel-days in the area, followed by France (average of around 13,000 vessel days) and Britain (around 7500 vessel-days). Effort from other countries in the Irish EEZ is relatively minor. When effort is expressed as KWdays at sea (taking vessel power into account) the relative share of the Spanish vessels decreases, while that of the Netherlands increases. Data on engine power of Norwegian vessels were not available but if one assumes an average engine power of 6000KW (Similar to that of Dutch vessels operating in the Irish EEZ), the Norwegian effort would be in the order of 5 million KWdays per year. The average Irish effort is in the order of 12 million KW-Days (31% of the EU effort in the Irish EEZ).

Figure 3.10 shows that although the majority of Irish landings (by weight) consist of pelagic species, a relatively small proportion of effort takes place with pelagic gears. Data on Norwegian gear types were not available but most of the Norwegian effort in the Irish EZZ is pelagic. The Dutch effort in days-at-sea is minor but these are powerful vessels so when effort is expressed as KWdays, Dutch effort becomes substantial.

38 Fleet Activity

The number of vessels operating in the Irish EEZ is shown in Figure 3.11. In addition to around 250 Irish vessels of more than 15m length shown in the figure, there were around 200 Irish vessels of 10-15m that reported landings during 2006, 2007 and 2008. The number of active vessels under 10m is not recorded.

Figures 3.12 to 3.19 Show the distribution International effort inside the EEZ. Vessels were assumed to be fishing if their speed was between 0.1 and 5.0 knots.

average Days 2006 2007 2008 proportion VI,VII - EEZ 25648 27501 23144 79% VI,VII - Other 6186 5955 5234 18% IV 448 707 601 2% VIII 243 150 60 <1% I,II 183 207 92 <1% CECAF 0 100 140 <1% Med 13 0 0 <1%

Figure 3.1 Distribution of Irish effort of vessels >15m. Source: VMS database.

39 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.2 Approximate distribution of fishing activity of Irish Vessels (>15m) in the North-East Atlantic. The activity near Rockall is targeted at haddock. To the north of Scotland and around the Shetland Islands Irish vessels mainly target mackerel. Herring are targeted in the southern Norwegian sea while the fishing activity in the Barents Sea is consists mainly of vessels targeting cod. Crab were targeted to the west of Denmark. Vessels fishing off West Africa mainly targeted small pelagics. Source: VMS database.

40 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.3 Distribution of effort (hours fished per square nautical mile) of vessels >15m. Nephrops targeted effort was classified as any day on which 30% or more of the catch (by weight) consisted of Nephrops. Source: VMS database and Irish Logbooks database.

41 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.4 Distribution of effort (hours fished per square nautical mile) of vessels >15m. Demersal (non-Nephrops) targeted effort was classified as any day on which less than 30% of the catch (by weight) consisted of Nephrops. Source: VMS database and Irish Logbooks database.

42 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.5 Distribution of effort (hours fished per square nautical mile) of vessels >15m. Pelagic targeted effort was classified as and trip on which more than 75% of the landings consist of pelagic species. Source: VMS database and Irish Logbooks database.

43 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.6 Distribution of effort (hours fished per square nautical mile) of vessels >15m. Deepwater targeted effort was classified as any trip on which 100kg or more of deepwater species were reported. The deepwater fisheries has mostly ceased due to a collapse in many of the deepwater stocks. Source: VMS database and Irish Logbooks database.

44 Fleet Activity Effort VIa Effort VIIb,c

5000 4000 4500 3500 4000 3000 3500 3000 2500 2500 2000 2000 1500 1500 Kw.Days (000's) Kw.Days Kw.Days (000's) Kw.Days 1000 1000 500 500 0 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Effort VIb Effort VIId,e

700 450 400 600 350 500 300 400 250

300 200 150 200 Kw.Days (000's) Kw.Days Kw.Days (000's) Kw.Days 100 100 50 0 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Effort VIIa Effort VIIf,g,h,j,k

3500 12000

3000 10000 2500 8000 2000 6000 1500 4000 1000 Kw.Days (000's) Kw.Days (000's)

500 2000

0 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Note that ICES divisions VIIb and VIIc as well as VII f, g,h,j,k are grouped, and the scales across each group are different. POTS PEL_TRAWL OTTER

LONGLINE12 00 0 10 00 0 s

Figure 3.7 Irish effort from 1995 to 2008 by ICES division for the main gear types 00 0' 80 00

60 00 w.Days ( w.Days K GILL 40 00 20 00

for vessels over 10m expressed as Kw.Days in the main ICES sub- 0 divisions around Ireland. DREDGE995 DEM_SEINE BEAM

In all areas with the exception of VIb (Rockall) effort has declined. By gear group, otter trawl effort has declined in the majority of areas but has increased in VIIek (Celtic Sea) and VIb (Rockall). Beam trawl activity is centred in VIIa (Irish Sea) and VIIe-k (Celtic Sea) and has shown a marked decline in recent years. The use of static gears (pots and nets) has remained fairly stable with slight increases in potting activity being observed in VIIa and VIIbc.

45 Fleet Activity average EU Days 2006 2007 2008 proportion BEL 505 557 255 1% ESP 23830 27010 21556 33% FRA 12563 14757 12261 18% GBR 7464 8127 7315 10% IRL 25648 27501 23144 34% NLD 544 511 651 1% NOR 873 849 759 - OTH 2069 2532 2405 3%

Figure 3.8 Distribution of fishing effort expressed as days-at-sea within the Irish EEZ. Source: VMS database

KWdays average EU (millions) 2006 2007 2008 proportion BEL 0.42 0.49 0.21 1% ESP 8.46 9.82 8.55 22% FRA 6.337.506.1517% GBR 5.245.485.1513% IRL 12.48 13.10 11.01 31% NLD 3.173.014.209% NOR--- - OTH 1.833.293.627%

Figure 3.9 Distribution of fishing effort expressed as KWdays-at-sea within the Irish EEZ. Data on engine power of Norwegian vessels were not available but if one assumes an average engine power of 6000KW (Similar to that of Dutch vessels operating in the Irish EEZ), the Norwegian effort would be in the order of 5 million KWdays per year. Source: VMS database.

46 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.2 Effort of vessels >15 inside the Irish EEZ, showing the proportion of effort that can be attributed to pelagic gears. Source: VMS database

average Vessels 2006 2007 2008 proportion BEL 35 33 22 2% ESP 334 340 312 23% FRA 226 245 242 17% GBR 247 370 329 22% IRL 281 257 265 19% NLD 12 12 15 1% NOR 77 64 63 5% OTH 181 145 150 11%

Figure 3.3 The number of vessels (larger than 15m) operating in the Irish EEZ. Source: VMS database.

47 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.4 Belgian effort in the Irish EEZ is relatively small and limited to the area off the east and southeast of Ireland. The majority of these vessels use beam trawls and target black sole and other benthic species like monkfish and megrim. Source: VMS database.

48 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.5 Spanish effort in the Irish EEZ is considerable. Spanish vessels use gillnets to target hake and monkfish along the continental shelf edge as well as gillnets targeting hake and trawls targeting monkfish, megrim and hake. Source: VMS database.

49 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.6 French effort in the Irish EEZ is also extensive and widely distributed throughout the area. In the Celtic Sea area there are three French fleets operating: in the eastern Celtic Sea there is a gadoid-directed trawl fleet, in the western Celtic Sea a benthic trawl fleet operates, targeting monkfish and megrim and there also is a Nephrops directed fleet which mainly operates in UK waters and along the edge of the Irish EEZ. Along the edge of the continental shelf French vessels target monkfish, megrim and hake. Finally there is a deepwater component along the Porcupine bank and west of Donegal. Source: VMS database.

50 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.7 British effort in the Irish EEZ is mainly concentrated on the Irish Sea Nephrops grounds, but a relatively low effort is also distributed throughout the rest of the area. The vessels fishing on the Nephrops grounds are mainly Northern Irish trawlers. British gillnets also operate along the Porcupine bank, targeting monkfish. Source: VMS database.

51 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.8 Irish effort in the Irish EEZ is concentrated on the Nephrops grounds in the Irish Sea and west of the Aran Islands and the Smalls grounds in the Celtic Sea (most of which is in UK waters). There is also considerable effort in the remainder of the Celtic Sea where a range of gear-types are used targeting demersal as well as pelagic species. The fishing effort along the edge of the continental shelf mainly consists of vessels targeting hake, monkfish and megrim. A relatively small number of large pelagic vessels also operate in the area and are responsible for the bulk of the catches by weight. Source: VMS database.

52 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.9 Dutch effort in the Irish EEZ is relatively minor and consists mainly of pelagic vessels targeting mackerel and horse mackerel. Source: VMS database.

53 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.10 Norwegian effort in the Irish EEZ is relatively minor and consists mainly of pelagic vessels targeting blue whiting. Source: VMS database.

54 Fleet Activity

Figure 3.19 Effort from Other countries. This includes a large proportion of unknown vessels as well as vessels from Russia, Germany, Faeroe Islands, Portugal and others. Source: VMS database.

55 Fleet Activity Section 4 – State of the Fisheries Resource

General overview of stocks around Ireland

The following section is intended to provide a general, non-technical overview of the status of the key stocks around Ireland. For detailed scientific evaluations on a stock by stock basis, readers are encouraged to refer to the Marine Institute Stock Book (http://www.marine.ie/home/publicationsdata/publications/The+Stock+Book/) or to contact the MI for other publications on shellfish stocks. It is not possible to categorise the status of all fish stocks around Ireland in broad generic terms without over-simplifying the situation. The health of the stocks and level of fishing pressure applied varies significantly between species and across areas. Many stocks lack any formal assessment, making any judgement on their status problematic. It is important to make the distinction between the state of the stock, generally a measure of its size against historic levels and the fishing pressure that is exerted on the stock. Management aims to control the fishing pressure so that the amount removed from a stock does not jeopardise its ability to reproduce. Therefore, when considering an individual stock it is important not only to think about how big it is but also how much of it is removed each year through fishing.

With a few exceptions, most stocks are fished to a point where their productivity (i.e. their capacity to increase biomass through growth and reproduction) is less than it could be. This does not imply that all are in imminent danger of collapse; some stocks have been fished at moderately high levels for decades yet maintain stable levels of catches, conversely, some stocks have been fished at unsustainable levels where the stock has collapsed, others are fished at low levels or intermittently but are unstable because of normal environmental effects on recruitment.

Demersal Stocks

The Northern hake stock has rebuilt following the application of a stock recovery plan, which has seen fishing pressure decline over the past decade. Anglerfish, megrim and Celtic Sea haddock stocks are also stable, although these should not be subjected to any increases in fishing pressure. There are a number of other demersal stocks that are severely depleted and give significant concern. In broad terms, almost all of the demersal roundfish stocks, in particular cod, haddock and whiting need to be rebuilt to some degree, although the extent of this is area-specific. For example, while Irish Sea and Rockall haddock are doing well, haddock stocks in the West of Scotland have fallen beyond desirable levels and almost all the cod stocks around Ireland are severely depleted and catches are well below historic levels. Both Irish Sea and cod Stocks in the West of Scotland have been the focus of recovery plans for the past decade. Despite the introduction of these, there have been little signs of improvement. Similarly, whiting stocks in the two areas are also severely depleted and suffer from high levels of discards. Most flatfish, with the exception of Irish Sea Plaice, are all below desirable levels and fishing pressure should be reduced in order to rebuild them.

Pelagic Stocks

Pelagic stocks such as herring, mackerel and horse mackerel show varying trends. While horse mackerel and mackerel stocks are in good shape, the recent catches of mackerel in excess of the agreed TAC are likely to increase fishing levels to undesirable levels. The picture of herring stocks around Ireland is varied. The Celtic Sea stock has rebuilt since the low levels seen in the early party of this decade, and is now subject to an industry-led rebuilding plan. Herring to the north west of Ireland is however, depleted and needs to be rebuilt. The blue whiting stock has been at a very high level for much of the last decade but is now declining.

Shellfish Stocks

Prawn (Nephrops) stocks around Ireland are stable with the exception to the Porcupine stock, which is in danger of collapse. Brown crab, lobster, shrimp, whelk, scallop, cockles and clams are important shellfisheries in waters around Ireland. Generally the size of these stocks or their potential yields are not estimated but other indicators are used to assess their status. Brown crab stocks are stable in Sub-area VI but catch rates may be declining in Division VIIj (south west coast) and biomass in all areas is lower than in the 1980s. Lobster stocks vary according to area; some stocks may be in decline while others have recently increased. The productivity of lobster stocks could be higher if spawning potential was increased through technical measures or control of fishing mortality. Whelk stocks have not been assessed recently. Scallop stocks, which occur mainly off the south east coast may be under-fished as effort has declined significantly in recent years. Shrimp stocks vary annually but there is no evidence of any long term trend. The biomass of cockle and clam stocks is assessed annually and their fisheries are subject to annual management plans which limits exploitation to a percentage of biomass.

56 State of the Fisheries Resource Appendix I Definition of fisheries technical terms and acronyms

ACOM Advisory Committee is the sole competent body for ICES for scientific advice in support of the management of coastal and ocean resources and ecosystems. It is a merger of the former ACFM, ACE and ACME advice groups. CECAF Fisheries Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic – a committee of FAO (see below) and web page http://www.fao.org/fi/body/rfb/cecaf/cecaf_home.htm Cod Long Term Plan (CLTP) Is a fisheries management regulation aimed at rebuilding cod stocks but also introducing effort controls for certain gear types linked to cod mortality (EC Reg 1342/2008) CFP / Common Fisheries Policy The instrument of fisheries management within the European community (see http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp_en.htm) CPUE /Catch Per Unit of Effort The catch of fish, in numbers or in weight, taken by a defined unit of fishing effort. Also called catch per effort, fishing success, or availability. DAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. (see: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie) Demersal Fish, such as cod, whiting, haddock, sole, plaice, megrim, hake, monkfish normally swim in mid-water at or close to the sea floor. Effective fishing effort Fishing effort or intensity standardised in some way e.g. hours fished in an area. Elasmobranchs Fish, such as skates, rays, sharks and dogfish, whose skeletons are cartilaginous rather than boney (as in the teleost species such as cod, whiting, plaice and herring). FAO Fisheries and Agriculture Organization – Based in Rome, this organization is part of the United Nations (see http://www.fao.org/fi/default.asp). Fishing Effort The total fishing gear in use for a specified period of time. When two or more kinds of gear are used, they must be adjusted to some standard type Hake Recovery Plan Is a fisheries management regulation aimed at rebuilding hake stocks (EC reg No 811 /2004) ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Seas –Ireland shares the Total Allowable Catches TACs for many stocks we exploit with our European Union partners. Because of this international dimension many stocks need to be assessed in an international fora such as ICES. (see: http://www.ices.dk/) ICCAT International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna – (see: http://www.iccat.int/) Industrial fisheries Those fisheries which target fish primarily for fish meal and fish oil products, mainly blue whiting, boarfish, Norway pout and sandeel. Inshore fisheries There are various definitions of inshore fisheries including those fisheries that are conducted within 12 miles of the shore, including demersal, pelagic, shellfish and sea angling fisheries. Marine Institute The Marine Institute is Ireland's national agency with the following general functions : "to undertake, to co-ordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to marine research and development, that in the opinion of the Institute will promote economic development and create employment and protect the environment." Marine Institute Act, 1991 – (see: http://www.marine.ie/) NEAFC / North Eastern Atlantic Fisheries Commission – A commission that manages fisheries off Scandinavia and north-eastern Europe - (see http://www.neafc.org/) Pelagic Fish that spend most of their life swimming in the water column, as opposed to resting on the bottom, are known as pelagic species (e.g. Mackerel, Horse mackerel, Herring, Sprat and Sardines). Shellfish Fisheries Those fisheries that target species that are either crustaceans (e.g. Nephrops, lobsters, crabs and crayfish) or molluscs (Cephalopods, scallops etc.). STATLANT ICES database that contains the officially declared landings from each European country fishing in the NE Atlantic. It does not include catches from the Mediterranean. STECF The Scientific Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries. Established by the European Commission and comprises fisheries scientists and economists from the member states. The role of STECF is to advise the European Commission on scientific, technical and economic issues related to the management of fisheries resources that are exploited worldwide by members of the European Union. (see http://fishnet.jrc.it/web/stecf ) Stock A "stock" is a population of a species living in a defined geographical area with similar biological parameters (e.g. growth, size at maturity, fecundity etc.) and a shared mortality rate. A thorough understanding of the fisheries biology of any species is needed to define these biological parameters. TAC / Total Allowable Catch is the total regulated catch from a stock in a given time period, usually a year. TCM / Technical Conservation Measures These measures take the form of closed areas, increased mesh sizes and gear modifications (such as separator panels) and are aimed at protecting specific stocks, or age-classes within that stock, from overfishing (See also Recovery Plans). VMS Vessel Monitoring Systems are used to monitor the activities of all EU fishing vessels over 15m in length by transmitting their position via satellite at least every 2 hours Whitefish Term used to describe demersal species such as cod, plaice, ray etc., as opposed to pelagic or salmonid species. Wild Capture Fisheries Fishing for wild fish. Excludes aquaculture and ranching. 57 Appendix I Definition of Terms Appendix II List of Species Groupings in the Atlas Species Grouping Species Grouping Alfonsino Deepwater Deepwater Shark Elasmobranchs Antimora blue Deepwater Dogfish Elasmobranchs Argentine Deepwater Eagle Rays Elasmobranchs Blue ling Deepwater Pelagic Shark Elasmobranchs Bluemouth Deepwater Rabbit Fish Elasmobranchs Cardinalfish Deepwater Ray Elasmobranchs Cutlassfish Deepwater Selachimorpha nei Elasmobranchs Eelpouts Deepwater Shark Elasmobranchs Forkbeard Deepwater Skate Elasmobranchs Grenadier Deepwater Skates and Rays nei Elasmobranchs Hairtails, Scabbardfishes nei* Deepwater Blue Whiting Industrial Hake Deepwater Boarfish Industrial Mora Deepwater Norway pout Industrial Norway RedFish Deepwater Bonito Large Pelagics & Tunas Orange roughy Deepwater Frigate (Bullet) Tuna Large Pelagics & Tunas Redfish Deepwater Opah Large Pelagics & Tunas Roughy silver Deepwater Swordfish Large Pelagics & Tunas Scabbardfish Deepwater Tuna Large Pelagics & Tunas Scorpianfishes nei Deepwater Clam Shellfish Smoothhead Deepwater Cockle Shellfish Tusk Deepwater Crab Shellfish Wolffish Deepwater Crab deepsea red Shellfish Wreckfish Deepwater Cuttlefish Shellfish African Lookdown Demersal Lobster Shellfish Atlantic Bumper Demersal Nephrops Shellfish Black Sole Demersal Octopus Shellfish Blue Butterfish Demersal Razor Shell Shellfish Bluefish Demersal Sand gaper Shellfish Brill Demersal Scallop Shellfish Catfish Demersal Shrimp Shellfish Cod Demersal Spiny Lobsters Shellfish Conger eel Demersal Squid Shellfish Dab Demersal Whelk Shellfish Flathead Grey Mullet Demersal Atlantic Spanish mackerel Small Pelagics Flounder Demersal Chilean Jack Mackerel Small Pelagics Greenland Halibut Demersal European Pilchard Small Pelagics Gadiformes nei Demersal Garfish Small Pelagics Gurnard Demersal Herring Small Pelagics Haddock Demersal Horse Mackerel Small Pelagics Hake Demersal Mackerel Small Pelagics Halibut Demersal Pomfret Small Pelagics John dory Demersal Sardinella Small Pelagics Lemon Sole Demersal Saury Small Pelagics Ling Demersal Sea Bream Small Pelagics Meagre Demersal Sprat Small Pelagics Megrim Demersal Mix Boxes Demersal Monkfish Demersal Morocco Dentex Demersal *Nei = not elsewhere indicated Mullet Demersal Plaice Demersal Pollack Demersal Poor cod Demersal Pouting Demersal Rascasse Rose Demersal Red Mullet Demersal Rubber‐lip Grunt Demersal Saithe Demersal Sand Sole Demersal Scorpianfishes nei Demersal Sea Bream Demersal Seabass Demersal Turbot Demersal Vadigo Demersal Whiting Demersal Witch Demersal

58 Appendix II Species Groupings “a thriving maritime economy in harmony with the ecosystem and supported by the delivery of excellence in our services”

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